Apparatus for the mechanical tying of twine, cord, and the like



1961 E. BILLIANI 3,006,271

APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING 0F TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 '1 SheetsSheet 1 Edge/7 8 IN VEN TOR.

06L 1951 E. BILLIANI 3,006,271

APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING OF TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 l// 0 v 1" 5 3 13 5 L- v 6 Eug e 1 5/iu 9/v/ IN V EN TOR.

Oct- 31, 1961 E. BILLIANI 3,006,271

APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING OF TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 24, 1956 Oct. 31, 1961 BILLIANI 3,006,271

APPARATUS THE MECHANICAL 'IYING 0F TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 dm 8/ 1- I SIV/ IN VEN TOR.

1961 E. BILLIAN] 3, 06,271

APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING 0F TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 7 n M 61/ 5w 61 I I 1 Li \6 lg i 84141900 IN V EN TOR.

BY a 9 25;

Oct. 31, 1961 E. BlLLlANl 3,006,271

APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING OF TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet s 1/ ugeh B 6 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 31, 1961 E. BILLIANI 3,006,271

APPARATUS FOR THE; MECHANICAL TYING OF TWINE, CORD AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 50 gill-1:9;

IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,006,271 APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL TYING F TWINE, CORD, AND THE LIKE Eugen Billiani, Immenstadt, Allgau, Germany, assignor to Hanfwerke Fussen-Immenstadt Aktiengesellschaft, Fussen, Allgau, Germany Filed Aug. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 606,146 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 14, 1956 23 Claims. (Cl. 10029) The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the mechanical knotting of non-metallic tying or fastening means, in particular of twines, cords and the like, having a polished surface and intended for the tying or fastening of packets, parcels and the like of any desired size.

According to the invention the ends of a string encircling the parcel, which is drawn off from a ball or coil, are mechanically knotted to form a genuine double knot (also known as a weavers knot) after the parcel is encircled with the string, the nearest end of string still connected to the ball or coil being laid in a symmetrical, generally pretzel-shaped double loop. The leading portion of the string is then drawn through the two loops, and subsequently, while the leading end of the string is firmly held, the end of string leading to the ball or coil is pulled, and simultaneously the knot on the leading end of the string is displaced in the direction of the parcel or, conversely, the parcel in the direction of the knot, and the portion of string connecting the loops is turned down. In this way a firmly seated and securely knotted tying or fastening is obtained. f

In particular the process according to the invention is carried out in such a manner that the string is unwound from its ball or coil by means of a first tool and the leading end of string is passed in the direction of the parcel support by means of a pair of essentially similar second tools mounted one behind the other on one side of the parcel support. The leading end of the string is then drawn out of the pair of second tools and passed over the parcel to be tied to a third tool projecting on the other side of the parcel support and disposed beneath the support, this third tool taking up the leading end of string. The third tool then returns the leading end of string under the parcel support and back in front of the pair of second tools which are directed towards the parcel support, whereupon the first tool is brought, if it has not already been done, out of the range of operation of the pair of second tools. The second tools then describe together a movement perpendicular to the string passing through them, such movement being directed downwardly to the third tool, and essentially simultaneously execute rotary movements of 270 in opposite directions, so that the portion of string located between the pair of second tools is held approximately at its original height by means of a fourth tool and thus laid in two loops symmetrical with respect to the ball or coil and the parcel. A fifth tool then passes through the pair of second tools and through the loops formed by them and takes over the leading end of string from the third tool, in order to draw the leading end through the loops. The fourth tool and the pair of second tools then release the string, so that the string is intertwined. Immediately fol; lowing or simultaneously with this, a sixth tool is moved across the entwined string in such a manner that the por; tions of string immediately adjoining the loops are taken up in a notch in the sixth tool and emerge on the upper side of the sixth tool, the loops and the end of string drawn through them remaining below the sixth tool. Then by a further back-sliding movement of the first, which tool holds the string firmly, the portion of string leading to the ball or coil is pulled in such a manner that,

in conjunction with themovement of the sixth tool, the

' loops are pulled to form small eyes, the portion of string connecting them being turned up by the sixth tool, thus forming a genuine double knot (weavers knot). Thereupon a cutting device separates the excess portions of string which form no part of the knot from the latter whereupon all the tools and the cutting device return to their starting position.

An appropriate apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention consists in driving means and a cuttting device served by central control means of such kind that a continuous sequence of movements takes place from the first passing by hand of the leading end of string into the third tool to the passing of the leading end of string through the pair of second tools by means of v the first tool.

' operated by means of excess-pressure switches.

A further advantageous development of the tying and knotting apparatus according to the invention consists in the fact that a clamping or gripper device pulls the string to be tied from its spool (ball) approximately vertically downwards, and the object to be tied, such as a parcel, is displaced transversely on a support taking the string along with it; A follower or cam, moving downwardly, leads the string in the form of a U-shaped loop to a position close to the clamping or gripper device first referred to. A clamping tool, which is displaceable in the horizontal direction and mounted to be rotatable at the same time, grips the leading end part of the string, forming it into a loop. During the rotation by which this part of the string is formed into a loop, the loop is moved into the zone below the loop first referred to. Then the tool which forms the U-shaped loop is pushed together with the loop through the loop produced by rotation. An additional gripper tool passes through this U-shaped loop and grips the leading-end part of the string. The clamping .tool first referred to then releases the end of the string,

which is then tensioned by the pair of second tools to tighten the knot formed. Finally, a cutting tool, such as a knife, severs the part of the string which leads to the ball. The device may also be operatedin such a manner that the loop formed by turning the st'ringi's formed first, after which the U-shaped loop is formed and drawn through the other loop in a single pass.

The binding 'andfknotting devices hitherto used are suitable only for cotton, sisal and jute string, that i to say, for strings with rough surfaces,and are moreover capable of handling string of only limited thickness. These known devices are unable to manipulate smooth or polished string, particularly hemp or other stiff smooth string, such, for example, as polished still paper string. Apart from its poor appearance, a rough or soft string, that is to say, a string whose surface is not smooth and thus not close, possesses the further disadvantage that, when carried or sliding on a support, the string becomes more readily abraded, its firmness or strength =beingthus reduced, as contrasted with a smooth form of string having a close polished surface. The latter kind of string, while being in great demand for packing, has not, on account of its smooth surface, hitherto permitted a safe mechanical knotting by means of conventional knotting methods, or by using the knotting devices hitherto known. -In addition, some of the known tying devices are limited in their dimensions and leave relatively little scope for the dimensions of the parcels to be tied and the like. Other mechanisms are hmited to the application of a seal out of which the string may slip. There are also systems which" form knots with loops which become untied.

In accordance with the invention smooth strings with close polished Surfaces of any thickness (from extremely thin string to string having a thickness of several millimeters), and particularly hemp string as well as stiff string, may be used to tie up packages such, for example, as boxes, parcels, small parcels sacks, plies of paper, unpacked objects and the like, these strings being quickly wound around the objects to be packed, and their ends being formed without outside assistance to a firm, i.e. self-locked knot, if desired in several tying directions disposed at a relative angle of 90.

With known apparatus, polished string, which is con- 'siderably smoother than is a string of cotton or the like, caused excessive difiiculties with respect to guidance and cohesion during the formation of the knot and could, therefore, not be satisfactorily knotted by machine. In accordance with the invention, however, it is possible to produce a knot by purely mechanical means by pushing two loops into one another in a simple manner. In

a known constructions there has also existed a difficulty in forming the knot very closely to the parcel or the like while, at the same time, the string to be tied had to be tightly tensioned. It has likewise been found necessary to form a genuine double knot, also known as a reef or weavers knot, to ensure that the tying would not come undone. The formation of such knots by means of an automatic mechanical device has required complicated mechanical linkage and action and sections of string of predetermined length. According to the invention, how ever, a ball of endless string may be employed, since inasmuch as by means of the tool assembly in the device, it is possible to use very loose loops shaped as a cracknel, through which the leading end of the string can conveniently be passed and drawn, while as the rear part of the string is tightly tension'ed, the loops are moved close to the parcel, the self-locking double knot being finally formed by folding over the part of the string which connects the loops. In this manner it is possibleparticulady by using hydraulic control-to obtain satisfactory lacings by means of a device of relatively simple construction within a very short working time.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURES 1 to 11 show various operational phases of one construction of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURES 12 to 14 show various phases in the formation of the knot;

FIGURE 15 shows the string guide before the production of the loops;

FIGURES 16 to 22 show tools for the formation of the loops and for guiding the string;

FIGURE 23 is a general view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 24 shows a diagrammatical sectional view of the complete apparatus;

FIGURES 25 to 31 show various operating phases from the beginning of the tying process to the finished knot in a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 32 shows a construction of the toolhead forming the U-shaped loop as provided in the construction illustrated in FIGURES 25 to 31; and

FIGURES 33 to 37 show on an enlarged scale the individual phases of the knotting operation as effected in the construction illustrated in FIGURES 25 to 32.

According to FIGURES 1 to 22, one construction of the apparatus according to the invention comprises a string guide 3 having sections 3', 3", first tool) in which the string is received and held, for a time, by means of the clamping device 12, and by which the string is tensioned on termination of the knotting operation; two devices 5" (second tools), provided to form the loops 58', 58", through which the string is passed by the first tool 3, and by which the string is laid in loops 58', 58"

through which the leading end 1' of the string is subsequently returned; a string conveyor or rocker 6 (third tool) in which the string is inserted by hand in order to be fed toward the loop formers 5, 5"; a string holder 7 (fourth tool) which assists in the knotting of the knot, and finally the cutting device 11 (FIGURE 10) by which the remaining ends of string are cut off after the knot has been formed.

The general view shown in FIGURE 23 indicates that it is mainly the parcel support 4 which is externally visible. From the casing 36 of the apparatus there project the loop formers 5', 5" having the shape of bifurcated pincers, from which projects the leading end 1' of a string ready to be gripped. From the opposing end of the parcel support projects the string-receiving device 6', 6". The tying operation proceeds in a vertical plane which extends through the bifurcated pincers 5, 5" and the string-receiving device 6, 6".

The only operation carried out by hand--unless it is also efiected automaticallyis as follows: The parcel 2 is placed on the support 4 in such a manner that the tying operation may be efiected at the desired position, while the rear edge of the parcel lies directly against the forward bifurcated pincers 5. Then theleading end 1' oflthe string is gripped, drawn from the bifurcated pincers 5', passed around the parcel and inserted in the string-receiving device 6. The manual operation is thus terminated. A button 33 is depressed to initiate the automatic knotting opration, by which the string is tightened and knotted and the ends of the string are cut off. As illustrated in FIGURES l to 11, two similar bifurcated pincers 5, 5" are provided between the parcel resting on the support 4 and the string guide 3. The string guide is of tubular construction, the string being passed through this tool. The string guide is mounted in slide rails 13 on which it is moved to and fro (FIGURE 21). The operation of the string guide is hereinafter described. Before starting, the string arriving from the ball 1 is introduced into the tube 3, advantageously by means of a probe, not shown in the drawing, so that the leading end 1 thereof projects from the forward opening of the tube ready to be gripped.

As shown in FIGURE 21 it is of advantage to use as the string guide 3 a telescopic tube consisting of two parts, namely the sections 3' and 3". The rear tube part 3 is displaceable on the rails 13 and carries the clamping device 12 by which the string disposed in the tube is held in position. The opening and closing of the clamping device 12 proceeds in dependence upon the position of the tube part 3 in the sliding carriage 13, lifting cams (not shown) being provided to enable the tube part 3' to glide further after the operation of the clamping device 12 is terminated. In FIGURE 21 the control of the clamping device is indicated in a simplified manner by the stops 18', 18".

The tube part 3 is moved to and fro by means of the rack 30. The tube part 3' contains the forward tube part 3". The tube part 3" is tensioned by a spring 15 which is secured to an abutment or stop 14 in such a manner as to be drawn into the first tube part 3', and can be held in a drawn-out position in opposition to the pull of the spring by means of a pawl 17, which comes to bear upon an abutment 59 connected to the tube part 3".

In the extended position the telescopic tube section 3" is fed with its forward opening through the passages 60', 60" provided in the bifurcated pincers 5', 5" in the direction of the parcel 2 (FIGURE 2). Just before the forward end position is reached, the pawl 17 mounts a wedge, not shown, thus releasing the tension obtaining between the tube parts. The second tube part 3" is thus caused to jump back into the first tube part 3. Owing to the fact that the string is then still held in position by the string clamp 12, the leading end 1' of' the string hangs loosely from the opening 60 of the bifurcated pincers 5' disposed adjacent the parcel. When the tube part 3' is in the end position, the string clamp 12 strikes the pin or bolt 18' representing any suitable control cam, thus releasing the string. The apparatus is then in the position of rest (FIGURE 3). In certain cases particularly where a direct hydraulic drive without the interposition of the toothed segment 31 and the rack 30 is provided, it appears to be of advantage to allow the return spring 15 to bear directly against the tube part 3'. If the elements 30, 31 are provided, it is possible to accommodate all hydraulic driving means below in the casing 36 of the device (see FIGURES 23 and 24), thus avoiding contamination of the parcels by any oil which may issue.

It will thus be understood that the operating phase illustrated in FIGURE 3 represents the initial and final stages of the automatic tying process during continuous automatic operation.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the next parcel 2 is then moved on its support 4 in front of the bifurcated pincers 5', 5" and, as shown in FIGURE 4, the string 1" is drawn by hand from the opening 60' provided in the bifurcated pincers 5' and passed over the parcel 2. The leading end 1' of the string is inserted in a clamping device 6' provided at the end of the rocker arm 6. The operation efiected by hand is thus completed.

The rocker arm 6 is mounted at a position below the center of the longitudinally slotted parcel support 4 and moves in a plane which extends in a direction at right angles to the parcel support and through the center of the parcel 2 and the bifurcated pincers 5', 5". When the rocker arm 6 is in the first position, the end carrying the string-receiving device 6 projects from the forward end of the parcel support 4. At the beginning of the subsequent automatic cycle of operations, the rocker arm 6 moves underneath the parcel support in the direction of the bifurcated pincers 5', 5" (FIGURE 5). As it does so, the string-receiving device 6' (FIGURE 19) is moved in the direction of the pivot 25 by means of the rack 26 and toothed segment 27 which are also automatically moved by the device 35 which drives the rocker arm 6, so that, during the rotational movement of the rocker arm, the string-receiving device 6' remains below the parcel support.

The string-receiving device itself shown in FIGURE 22 comprises two relatively movable tools movable relative to one another, of which the tool 26 is constructed as a rack with the cam 26, while the other tool is constructed as a tube or pin 6' with the claw 6". The tube 6' is mounted to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction in a tubular part 26" of the rack 26. The rack 26 is provided at the end of the rocker arm 6 so as to be displaceable in the direction of the pivot 25 of the rocker arm 6. When the apparatus is in the position of rest, the claw 6" projects to a considerable extent from the tube 26", so that the string 1' can be readily inserted therein by hand. At the beginning of the movable action of the rocker arm 6, .and as the rack 26 with the cam 26 slides back, the claw 6" is drawn into the tube 26", so that the string is clamped in position. When as a result of the movement efiected by the rocker arm 6 the string is tightened, the leading end of the string 1' comes to lie over the end of the cam 26' as indicated in dash lines in FIGURE 22. In this condition, the string extends freely in the longitudinal direction of the rocker arm, so that it can subsequently readily be gripped by the fifth tool (gripper 8).

During or after the tilting of the rocker arm 6, the two bifurcated pincers 5', 5" are withdrawn in the downward direction (FIGURE 6), while the fourth tool (string holder 7), which may be constructed as an ordinary bolt or pin displaceable in the direction of its own axis, holds up the string between the two lowered bifurcated pincers 5, 5". Owing to the shape of the heads 21 of the bifurcated pincers, the string then assumes the shape of the FIGURE 3 lying on its back (FIGURE 15).

As shown in FIGURES 17 and 18, eachof the two bifurcated pincers 5' and 5" has a fixed arm 61' and a movable arm 61" connected thereto by the pivot pin or bolt 18. The ends of the two arms together form an opening 60 which is closed on all sides for the passage of the tube part 3" and thus also of the string. The axis of the opening extends parallel to the pin 18. The upper boundary of the opening 60 has the-shape of a saddle surface 20, the top part of which forms a U-shaped head whose sides 21', 21" extend in the upward direction (FIGURE 15). When the bifurcated pincers are lowered, the string comes to rest against the underside of the saddle surface 20. Simultaneously with or after the lowering of the two bifurcated pincers, they are turned in opposite directions through 270, so that two symmetrical pretzel-shaped loops 58' and 58" are formed, the common axis of which coincides'with the axis of the gripper 8. p

The lowering and rotationof the two bifurcated pincers 5, 5" is rendered possible in that, as illustrated in FIG- URE 16, the stationary arm 61' of each'bifurcated pair of pincers is secured to a supporting shaft 22', 22", the two pivot pins being arranged in parallel relation and so as to be rotatable in a. slide 32 which is displaceable in the direction of the bearing-pin axis. The shafts 22' and 22" carry at their upper ends the bifurcated pincers and at their lower ends two pinions, a first pinion 23, and a second pinion 23" which mesh with each other. The two bearing pins 22', 22" are mounted in bearing beds 32, 32" of the slide 32. The pinion 2 also meshes with the pinion 34 which is provided externally of the slide 32 and remains in this engaged position at each positionof the slide as a result of the considerable axial length of the pinion 34. The shafts 22', 22" are each provided with an axial bore in which is slidably mounted a respective pusher 24', 24". The ends of the pushers 24, 24" which face the bifurcated pincers are of wedge-shaped construction, their upper wedge faces coming to lie under corresponding counter-faces of the movable arms 61" when the pushers are operated. In the construction illustrated in FIGURE 17, the arms of the bifurcated pincers are forced apart by the spring 19. The pincers are closed by moving the pushers 24', 24" in the direction of the arms of the bifurcated pincers. To achieve this, the two pushers 24', 24" are connected to a common operating device 63 which in the illustrated example is likewise mounted on the slide 32. Theoperating device may also be secured at a position externally of the slide and operate the pushers through movable members.

In the next working phase (FIGURES 7 to 9) the leading end of the string 1' is drawn through the loops 58', 58". In the construction shown by way of example, this object is achieved by means of a fifth tool, which is constructed as a needle-shaped gripper 8 and the forward end of which carries a gripping hook 28 which grips the end of the string 1' brought up by the rocker arm 6. The needle reaches through the upper part of the U-shaped heads 21 of the bifurcated pincers 5', 5" and thus also through the two loops of string 58', 58" which are laid around the saddle surfaces 20 of the U-shaped heads 21. The gripping hook 28 is advantageously of the same construction as the claw 6" of the string-receiving device 6'. When the claw 28 slides past the string, it grips the string (FIGURE 8) and, when the needle 8 is withdrawn (FIG- URE 9), withdraws into a bore, thus clamping the string in position. When the needle 8 has returned to its initial position, the bifurcated pincers 5, 5" are opened by the retraction of the pushers 24', 24" (FIGURE 10). At the same time, the fourth tool (string holder 7) is withdrawn to such an extent that the part of string hitherto held in position thereby is released (FIGURE 11). As illustrated in FIGURE 12, a loose loop of string 64 is thus produced. Approximately at the moment at which the pincers 5', 5" are opened and the bolt 7 is withdrawn, the tube section 3' commences to slide back (FIGURE '21) while the string clamp 12 strikes the stop 18" and is thus closed. The stop 18", in a manner not shown in the drawing, is made to be so resilient, or substituted by a lifting cam,'that the tube section 3 can slide further back. As a result of the tube section 3' sliding back with the string clamp closed, the string part 1" is tensioned so that the loop of string assumes the shape shown in FIG- URE 13. As the tube part 3' slides back, the forward tube part 3" simultaneously abuts a fixed stop 16, thus stopping its movement, so that the tubes 3' and 3" are again extended, and in their mostextended position the pawl 17 drops into place thus locking the tubes in this relative position.

As the string 1" is tensioned, a sixth tool constructed as a retaining plate 9 (FIGURES 11 and 20) moves in the direction of the parcel over the loop. When in the position of rest, the plate 9 is disposed in front of the bifurcated pincers 5" remote from the parcel support, and, at approximately the level of the string holder 7, isdisplaceable parallel to the axis of the telescopic tube 3. The plane of the counter-holding plate 9 extends parallel to the parcel support 4. In the front edge facing the parcel, the plate 9 has a V-shaped notch 29 with an enlarged recess 10 at its apex. The retaining plate moves to its second position closeto the parcel in such a manner that the notch 29 provided in the plate 9 immediately receives the string parts 1", 1"" extending from the loops 58, 58" and pushes them forward so that as the entwined string is drawn closer together (FIGURE 13), the whole entwined part of the string is displaced along the leading end 1 of the string in the direction of the parcel by retraoting the string end 1"" by means of the tube part 3'. Then the retaining plate has reached its end position, while the tube section 3 slides further back. Part of the entwined string (FIGURE 13), which is now tightened to such an extent as to form two narrow eyes, is thus drawn upwardly into the rounded opening 10 provided in the plate 9. The opening is so narrow that the string section 64 which connects the two loops cannot pass through and is folded over downwardly. The double knot shown in FIGURE 14 and known by various definitions, such as weavers knot, double half or clove hitch, slip-knot, reef or the like, is thus formed.

With respect to FIGURE 20, it is to be understood that it is merely for the sake of better understanding that the thread parts are shown as being drawn wide apart and as projecting from the plate 9. In actual fact, the plate 9 rests closely on the knot.

The last working phase is effected by the cutting device 11 diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 11, by which the remaining end of the string 1 and the string part 1 leading to the ball 1 is cut in such a manner that an end section 1 hangs ready to be gripped from the forward opening of the forward tube part 3". The whole apparatus returns to its initial position by the counterholding plate 9 returning to a position between the telescopic tube 3 and the needle 8; the pin 7 advancing to a location between the bifurcated pins 5', 5 which are turned back and move upwardly; the rocker arm 6 returning to its initial position; and the extended and locked telescopic tube 3, with its. point and the leading end of the string 1, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, moving, as the spring 15 is tensioned, through the openings 60 and 60" in the bifurcated pincers 5", 5", thus allow ing its second tube part 3" to move back, and opening the string clamp 12. The apparatus 'has thus returned to its initial position (FIGURE 3).

The cycle of movements of the tools and auxiliary devices which are operated by hydraulic driving means, may be exactly controlled in known manner. It is of advantage to provide a single hydraulic drive for this purpose.

FIGURE 24 shows a side elevation of the whole apparatus (with the front wall removed). The apparatus is inserted in a frame 37 to which the casing 36 is also secured. FIGURE 24 shows the relative location of the parts hereinbefore described. In particular there can be seen the individual drives 31, 63', 34', 63, 6", 7, 8' and 9' for the respective tool and operating means, from which one or two supply lines (such as 42 and 42") extend to the hydraulic driving unit 41 as shown diagrammatically by way of example with respect to the drive 6" of the rocker arm 6. The unit 41 contains all the parts of the whole control mechanism as well as the main drive, that is to say, among other things, the control piston with the distributor for the lines (42', 42" and so on) and the excess-pressure switches connected thereto, and a thrust generator with driving motor.

With respect to the tools used in the construction shown by way of example, it should be noted that the individual operations hereinbefore described as effected by means of certain tools as well as the specific construction of the tools may also be carried out in a different manner. The drive of the individual tools and auxiliary devices may also be effected either directly or through intermediate members, such as racks and toothed segments, crank drives or toggle-joint drives, e.g. 'as illustrated at 65 in FIGURE 24.

To accelerate the working process, it is also possible to dispense with the rocker arm 6 altogether and instead to move the string-receiving device on a straight path, below the parcelsupport 4.

It is also possible, particularly in those cases where a series of the same parcels of kind have to be tied up, to efifect the operation of passing the string around the parcel by machine rather than manually.

By the aforedescribed means the end 1 of the string used for tying up the parcel can be tensioned as soon as, in accordance with FIGURES 12 and 20, the string end 1 is drawn through the loops 58 and 58", the knotting operation shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 being subsequently effected, so that the string comes to lie closely around the parcel 2.

To ensure the secure tying up of the parcel and to obtain a firm knot, the parcel may be moved in the direction of the knot instead of tightening the string end 1, taking place at the moment at which the bifurcated pincers 5' and 5" are being pulled down. With light parcels, this displacement occurs automatically; with heavy parcels this displacement has to be effected by hand or by automatic (e.g. hydraulic) means. i A further construction of the invention is diagrammatically shown in FIGURES 25 to 32, the knot thus formed being shown in FIGURES 33 to 37. As shown in FIGURE 25, this device consistsof a supporting table 43 on which the parcel 2 or the like to be tied up rests at the beginning of the operations and from which, the parcel is moved on to the actual work table 44, taking along with it the string from ball 1. The support 43 can be dispensed with if at the beginning of the work the parcel 2 is pushed by hand or by a feed device directly on to the table top 44, taking the string 1 along with it. 7 The free end 1' of the string hanging down from the ball is, when the parcel is pushed on to the table, held in position by a stationary pincer-like gripper or clamping tool 45, so that the necessary length of string to be wound around the parcel is unwound from the ball.

The operating position obtaining after the parcel has been pushed on to the table is shown in FIGURE 26. It will be understood that it is of advantage to allow the parcel 2 to project at the rear slightly beyond the edge of the table, as the knotting operation proceeds at the lower projecting edge of the parcel.

A bracket 46 mounted to be rotatable above the parcel 2 is moved downwards, the bracket head 47 taking along the string 1", 1", thus forming the U-shaped loop shown in FIGURE 27.

As illustrated in FIGURE 32, the bracket head 47 is constructed as a slotted mandrel which is rounded at the base, and the side walls of which are formed with a groove 57 in which the string 1", 1"" is inserted. The

9: slot 49' is provided to enable a tool hereinafter described to be passed through the loop 48.

As shown in FIGURE 28, there is provided at a position below the plate 43 a bearing sleeve 51, the interior of which contains a thread of high pitch and in which is received a threaded spindle 52 whose projecting head carries a gripping and clamping tool 53. The gripping head 53 grips the leading end 1' of the string. The spindle 52 then rotates, thus effecting two operations; firstly, owing "to the very high pitch of the thread of the threaded spindle 52, the string end 1' is turned around once, so that the loop 54 indicated in FIGURE 29 is formed, and secondly, the loop 54 is drawn in the direction of the spindle (that is to say to the right in the plane of the drawing). The string surrounding the parcel 2 is thus substantially tightened so that the string in some cases slightly depresses the edges 2' of the parcel as shown in FIGURE 30.

The bracket 46 then moves further down, so that the loop 48 passes through the loop 54 as illustrated in FIG- URE 30. When the tool shown in FIGURE 32 is used the head 47, as illustrated in FIGURE 30, is disposed inside the loop 54, and the clamping tool 50 reaches through the slot 49 illustrated in FIGURE 32, thus gripping the string end 1', as shown in FIGURE 30, so that, as illustrated in FIGURE 31, it is possible to pull the string end 1' through the loop 48, so that as a result the two loops 54 and 48 become self-locked as soon as the string end 1 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 55.

FIGURE 30, however, shows a further construction of the tool which forms the U-shaped loop 48. In this case, the gripping and guiding tool 46 is formed as a hook, the straight part of which moves upwards to grip the string at a position below the ball 1 and pulls it downwardly, thus producing the U-shaped loop 48. This construction has the advantage that the hook-shaped tool 46 may remain in the loop 48 until the cycle of operations is completed. The hook itself may be constructed as a tilting mechanism in such manner that the hook is straightened upon release, with the object of withdrawing the tool 46' from the loop 48.

FIGURES 33 to 37 show on an enlarged scale the individual working phases of the knotting of the string efiected in this manner, and FIGURE 37 shows the manner in which the two loops 54 and 48 interengage when the leading string end 1' is tightened.

As shown in FIGURES 31 and 37, the string leading to the ball 1 is finally cut so that the string end projects from one end 1" of the knot and the leading string end 1 from the other end. The cutting element diagrammatically shown in the drawings is the knife 11. The new end of the string from the ball 1 corresponds to the original leading string end 1' whichis gripped for the next tying-up operation by the clamping tool 45. The latter is advantageously mounted so as to reciprocate in the vertical direction.

The space 56 between the knot and the parcel 2 automatically formed by the tensional force exerted by the tools, and by the spatial dimensions of the tools, is compensated at the moment at which the knot is released, by the restoring forces exerted by the depressed edges 2 of the parcel, a tension being thus imparted to the tied 1. Apparatus for the mechanical knotting of twine, cord, and the like, comprising a first tool, by which a string is unwound from a ball of string, a parcel support, a second pair of tools formed with normally aligned passages, said second tools being arranged in juxtaposed relationship on one side of said parcel support, and adapted to have the leading end of the string passed throughsaid passages in the direction of the parcel support, said first and second tools being so constructed that the leading end of the string can be drawn by hand therefrom and moved over the parcel to be tied, a third tool which projects from the other side of the parcel support and is disposed below the parcel support for gripping the leading end of the string, the third tool thus passing the string end below the parcel support to a position in front of said second tools facing the parcel support, said first tool being movable out of the zone of said second tools, said second tools being adapted to move down wardly, at right angles to the string passing through them toward the third tool, while at substantially the same time carrying out rotational movements in opposite directions respectively through 270, a fourth tool constructed and adapted to form a string disposedv between said second tools at approximately their original level into two loops which are symmetrical with respect to the ball and the parcel, a fifth tool adapted to pass through the passages of said second tools and the loops formed thereby, for taking the leading string end over from the third tool and drawing it through the loops, said fourth tool and said secondtools being adapted to release the string so that the string becomes entwined, a sixth tool adapted for movement over the entwined portion in such a manner that the string parts directly following the loops are received in a recess provided in the sixth tool and emerge at the top of the sixth tool, while the loops and the end of the string pulled through the loops remain below the sixth tool, said first tool by which the string is held in position being adapted to slide back and tension the string part leading to the ball of string so that by cooperation with the movement of the sixth tool the loops are drawn together to form narrow eyes and the section of the string connecting the two loops is folded over by the sixth tool whereby a double knot is formed, a cutting device adapted to cut off the string parts projecting from the knot, all of said tools and the cutting device being so constructed and adapted as to return automatically to their initial position on completion of each of their respective functions, and means for driving all said tools.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which central control means are provided for the driving means of the tools and the cutting device for elfecting continuous movement in timed relationship from the point of application of the leading end of the string by hand on the third tool to the point of passing the leading end of the string by means of the first tool through the second tools.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said driving means includes a hydraulic piston and electric switch means for controlling said piston.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a slide member, said first tool consisting of a telescopic tube formed by a first rear tube part axially displaceable in said slide member and a second forward tube part, a spring for biasing said forward tube part, a first and a second stop, said first stop being disposed in the path of the first tube part in its backward movement towards said second stop, the second tube part being adapted to strike said second stop whereby its backward movement is checked, and a locking device by which both said tube parts are locked in their respective extreme extended positions, whereby during the subsequent forward movement of the telescopic tube the second tube part stresses said spring and with its forward opening passes in succession through the passages provided in said second tools in the direction of the parcel support.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bore of the first tube part and the bore of the second tube part are disposed in such a manner that the end of the string introduced into the respective bores may be grasped from the bore end facing the parcel.

, 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the first tube part is provided with clamping means controlled by stops in dependence upon the position of the first tube part for alternately gripping and releasing said string in the first tube part.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said clamping device is adapted to hold the string in position as the 11 extended, locked telmcopic tube moves forward, the locking device being adapted to be released just before the first tube part reaches its forward end position and the second tube part is retracted by the string, the clamping device releasing the string upon the first tube part reaching its forward end position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said second tools is constructed as bifurcated pincers comprising a fixed arm and a movable arm pivotably secured to said fixed arm, the two arms forming its said passage, and spring means forcing the movable arm away from said fixed arm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said movable arm of each of said second tools is provided with and swingable about a pivot pin parallel to the axis of the said passage thereof, the upper part of said passage being closed on all sides and forming a saddle-shaped boundary of such configuration that each arm of the pincers terminates in a U-shaped head, the sides of the U extending upwardly.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for swinging the movable arm about said pivot pin for operating the bifurcated pincers, thus releasing the string slung around said U-shaped head.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said two bifurcated pincers are provided with respective shafts, further comprising a slide in which said shafts are mounted for opposite rotation, said slide being displaceable along with said shafts in the direction of the shaft axes, a first and a second meshing pinion respectively secured to said pincers, and a third elongated driving pinion meshing with said second pinion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each of said pincers is provided with a pusher formed with a wedge-shaped end adapted to swing said movable arm thereof away from said fixed arm upon displacement of said pusher longitudinally of the respective shaft.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 'wherein said shafts are hollow, said pusher being slidable in the bore of the corresponding shaft.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said third tool comprises a pivoted rocker arm having a pivot disposed approximately midway below the parcel support, said rocker arm being adapted for movement in a substantially vertical plane aligned with said second tools.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said rocker arm has a free end adapted to swing out of a first position remote from said second tools and beyond the parcel support into a second position close to the passages of the second tools upon a lowering of the latter.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the free end of the rocker arm is provided with a string-receiving device downwardly displaceable therein in the direction of the rocker-arm pivot, further comprising mechanism for downwardly displacing said string-receiving device to a level below the parcel support upon the beginning of motion of said rocker arm from said first position toward said second position.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the string-receiving device comprises two relatively movable telescoped tubes and a claw mounted at a projecting extremity of the inner one of said tubes, said claw being longitudinally displaceable in the outer tube in such a manner that the string is clamped in position when the claw is retracted into said outer tube.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said fifth tool is a needle-shaped gripper having a hook-shaped forward end adapted to grip the leading end of the string in the upwardly extended position of said string-receiving device.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fourth tool is a pin displaceable substantially horizontally in a plane transverse to the path of said fifth tool between the passages of said second tools for intercepting a portion of said string between the passages thereof upon the descent of said second tools.

' 20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sixth tool is a retaining plate positioned substantially parallel to the parcel support approximately at the level of said fourth tool and displaceable parallel to the axis of the first tool.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which said retaining plate has an edge facing the parcel and formed with a V-shaped notch terminating at its apex into an enlarged recess, said recess partly clearing the entwined portion of the string.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first tool is provided with a rack and a tooth segment meshing with said rack for effecting reciprocating movement of said first tool.

23. Apparatus for the mechanical tying of twine, cord and the like about an object, comprising a first tool by which a string is unwound from a supply source, a support for said object, a pair of second tools formed with normally aligned passages, said second tools being arranged in juxtaposed relationship on one side of said sup port and adapted to have the leading end of the string passed through said passages in the direction of said support, said first and second tools being so constructed that the leading end of the string can be drawn therefrom and moved around the object to be tied, a third tool movable past said support for gripping the leading end of the string at a location beyond said support and bringing it close to said second tools on the side facing said support, said second tools being retractable from a normal position, in a direction transverse to the string passing through them toward the third tool, while at substantially the same time carrying out rotational movements in opposite directions respectively through 270, a fourth tool interposable between said second tools prior to their retraction for intercepting a portion of string disposed between said second tools and upon such retraction forming it into two coplanar and substantially identical loops, a fifth tool movable through the passages of said second tools and said loops for taking the leading string end over from the third tool and drawing it through the loops, said fourth. tool and said second tools being adapted to release the string so that the string becomes entwined, a sixth tool adaptedfor movement into juxtaposition with thefentwined portion and provided with a recess for receiving the string parts directly following the loops while holding back the loops and the end of the string pulled through the loops, said first tool having string-gripping means and being retractable from said second tools for tensioning the string part leading to said supply source so that by cooperation with the movement of the sixth tool the loops are drawn together to form narrow eyes and the section of the string connecting thetwo loops is folded over by the sixth tool whereby a double knot is formed, a cutting device adapted to cut ofi the string parts projecting from the knot, and driving means for actuating all of said tools and said cutting device in coordinated cycles of operation whereby they are returned to their initial positions on completion of their respective functions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,751 Inglis et al. Apr. 15, 1913 2,040,493 Mardigian et al. May 12, 1926 2,080,149 Parker May 11, 1937 2,085,082 Delany .Tune 29, 1937 2,145,339 Burns Jan. 31, 1939 

